Back in the days when I was seeking to get the best longboard for beginners, I had no idea of where to start, which one I should go for, and whether it was a good board for me.
I understand your difficulty now as a beginner – finding the best longboard for beginners is confusing. But you’re luckier than I was, you have me!
In this article, aside from giving you an ultimate buying guide, I’m going to share my favorite picks from many years of longboarding.
Table of Contents
Here Are The Best Longboards For Beginners:
- Best Overall: Retrospec Bamboo Beginner Longboard
- Best For Freestyle: VOLADOR Longboard
- Best for Surfing: Quest Super Cruiser Longboard
- Best for Downhill: MINORITY Maple Drop Longboard
- Best Easy to Ride: Playshion Freestyle Drop Longboard
- Best for Cruising: Atom Drop Through Longboard
- Best Budget: Yocaher Punked Stained Beginner Longboard
- Best to Ride: Ten Toes Emporium Longboard
- Best for Commuting: Loaded Longboard
- Best Pintail Longboard: Atom PinTail Beginner Longboard
- Best for 13 year old: Sector 9 Aperture Longboard
- Best for Dancing: JUCKER HAWAII Beginner Longboard
- Best Drop Down Longboard: Yocaher Drop Down Longboard
- Best Cruiser Board: Quest Artisan Beginner Longboard
- Best Pintail Longboard: Atom PinTail Beginner Longboard
- Best Drop Down Longboard: Yocaher Drop Down Longboard
- Best for Girl: SCSK8 Natural Longboard
- Best to Surf: Santa Cruz Lion Beginners Longboard
- Best for Heavy Rider: White Wave Bamboo Longboard
Best Longboards For Beginners 2021
Quest Longboard
(Best Cruiser)
The Quest cruiser is my number one choice for the best beginner longboard.
In terms of style, I really, really love the California vibe. It’s more beautiful than the images show and it only costs $80.
The deck is 100% handmade and crafted by the best artisans at Quest.
I adored it after just a few rides and realized that this 44” longboard didn’t just look good but was also top quality.
The whole deck is made from high-quality bamboo which is much lighter and softer than the maple, delivering amazing flexibility for cruising all around. It is tough enough to carry a heavyweight (up to 250 lbs.).
With the slogan: Better components = better performance, Quest gained my trust from me for its high-quality product that will last a lifetime. From the bearings to the trucks and deck, particularly the wheels and their ability to absorb shocks that create a really smooth ride on different kinds of surfaces, even the rocks or rough terrain.
In brief, this is one of the best longboards for beginners.
Pros:
- Wide, sturdy, strong and long-lasting deck
- Weight limits up to 250 lbs.
- Well shock-absorbing wheels
- Good bearings
- High-quality, lightweight trucks
- Affordable price
- -> Best for cruising
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 43 x 9 x 44 inches |
Weight | 9.9 pounds |
Weight Capacity | <300 pounds |
Deck | 7 Ply Super Flex Bamboo and Hardwood Maple Deck |
Wheels | 70mm PU wheels |
Trucks | 7-inch aluminum trucks |
Bearings | Super-fast ABEC 7 |
Highlight features | Multi-ply Hardwood Maple and beautiful artisan bamboo deck + extra detail; |
VOLADOR Longboard
(Best For Freeriding)
Next up is a longboard from Volador.
Among the best longboards, it is a good choice for a heavy skateboarder weighing 200 lbs like me. But if you’re a heavier guy, don’t worry, as it will support you well.
It has an 8-ply hardwood maple deck that’s not only strong and tough and has a super-huge weight limit, but also it is wide enough to attach a motor and electronics underneath the board’s middle area.
So, if you worry that it might break or crack when used heavily then don’t. Maple is well-known for its strength to stay intact and remain durable no matter how many bumps, crops, and collisions it goes through.
With some flex, you can lean to the left or right and make good turns. However, for increased stability when paddling, consider tightening the trucks.
Finally, the grip. In my experience, once your feet are planted on this board, they aren’t going anywhere so that even with a ride downhill, you can control the board pretty well.
Pros:
- Good support for heavy skaters: strong deck, high-quality wheels, good bearings, and sturdy grip tape
- Can bear handle heavy use with minimal wear and tear
- Vibrant graphics
- Wide deck to mount motor and electronics
- Good grip
- Symmetrical design
- Great price
- Easy to carve
- Make sharp turns
- Ride smoothly on different terrains
- -> Good for commuting, cruising, and carving.
Cons:
- Needs some adjustment on the wheels
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 42 x 9 x 4 inches |
Weight | 7.3 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 250 pounds |
Deck | 8-ply natural hardrock maple |
Wheels | 70x51mm 78A PU wheels |
Trucks | Genuine aluminum 7-Inch reverse kingpin trucks |
Bearings | ABEC-9 presion bearings |
Highlight features | drop through camber deck; epoxy glue + healthy materials; 7-Inch reverse kingpin trucks |
Tips: Don’t go for the white wheels because they easily turn into grayish color
Ten Toes Longboard
(Best Bamboo Longboard)
The third board in this list belongs to the Ten Toes Board.
The vintage California look is exactly the longboard style make this board one most people want.
For years, the brand has been a top performer, emphasizing an exceptionally smooth ride and a great price.
In terms of materials, it’s a clever blend of bamboo and maple, that are strong, sturdy, and durably made to last for years. The deck itself is even more phenomenal with good flex for cruising and carving, as well as lightness making it easy to carry around.
As a professional skater, I love this board for its high maneuverability while for beginners, it is an easy ride with decent stability. Overall, in terms of the best longboards for beginners, this is a winner!
Pros:
- Tough and long-lasting
- Can bear harsh abusing
- Affordable but high quality and strong
- High maneuverability
- Stable and easy to learn
- Ride smoothly
- -> Good for carving, turning, cruising and freeriding.
Cons:
- Poor bearings
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 44 x 9.5 inches |
Weight | 3.52 ounces |
Weight Capacity | 220 lbs. |
Deck | 44-Inch artisan bamboo and 8-ply Canadian maple. |
Wheels | 70x51mm 85A PU wheels |
Trucks | 7-inch aluminum trucks. |
Bearings | ABEC-7 Bearing |
Highlight features | PU casted black bushing-90A; wheels with rock finish; a distinct Californian look and feel |
Atom Longboard
(Best Drop-Through)
Here is a drop-through longboard from Atom.
The price tag is a bit steep, however, for the phenomenal stability delivered by the ultra-low-riding construction, it is worth every cent.
The board is the best for downhill carving because it is easy to push and has a smooth ride and is also ideal for commuting around town.
The unique perimeter shape not only gives the board makes a small radius but also eliminates wheel bite, killing two birds with one stone.
The board also has a 12-month warranty
Pros:
- Drop-through deck, large rounded wheels for decent stability and easy riding
- Stylish graphics
- Affordable price
- Solid wheels and trucks
- Good bearings
- Smooth ride
Cons:
- The deck warped little after a long period of use
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 41.7 x 4.7 x 10.6 inches |
Weight | 7.8 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 220 pounds |
Deck | Full maple laminate deck |
Wheels | 70mm wheels |
Trucks | reverse King Pin (RKP) longboard trucks |
Bearings | ABEC 9 bearings |
Highlight features | Ultra-low-riding longboard; Unique perimeter shape; Full maple laminate deck; Includes limited one-year manufacturer's warranty |
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RIMABLE Longboard
(Stable)
If cruising and freeriding are what you want to do with your longboard, the RIMABLE Drop Through is the board for you. It has a 41” long 9-ply full maple laminated deck and is a strong and durable board that gives a solid feel when standing on and riding.
Though its wheels are PU even a 300-pound guy can use it easily without fear of breaking anything. You will need to adjust the trucks a little for a better flex and then, you are ready for the first ride.
The bearings that are superbly smooth to ride and will last for years. The manufacturer didn’t state which ABEC its bearings were, however, based on their quick roll, I guess they must be around ABEC 5 or ABEC 7.
Beginners should practice cruising and carving with this on flat surfaces before moving on to riding downhills, just to ensure your safety. And remember to wear safety gear as well.
Pros:
- Solid 9-ply maple deck and quality wheels to carry weight up to 300 lbs.
- Bearings spin smoothly and roll fast
- Good grip tape and no flex for the best stability
- Nice wheels
- Soft bushings
- Perfect deck width for big feet
- Affordable price
- No wheel bite
- -> Best for carving and cruising
Cons:
- Trucks are a little bit squeaky
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 41 x 9.5 Inches |
Weight | 8.2 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 220 pounds |
Deck | Cold Press 9 PLY FULL MAPLE LAMINATED DECK |
Wheels | 70X51MM PU WHEELS With 85A Hardness |
Trucks | Drop Through 7inch 180 ALUMINIUM TRUCK |
Bearings | ABEC-11 |
Highlight features | Lubricant, smooth bearings; Freerider Shape longboard |
Atom Longboard
(Stable)
Get the Atom pin-tail longboard during the 20% off discount campaign and get even more bang for you buck.
This is also my top recommendation for beginners because the board itself can take heavy abuse and is easy to control.
You may have collisions, bumps, drops, and so on, and a cheap longboard, as in this case, is struggling with this and may get scarred and even cracked very fast.
A mid-tier board is a better option for people with a tight budget as it makes a good long-term investment because the materials used are higher quality and will last longer with minimal damage.
I used this longboard nearly every day before changing to a more professional one for tricks. There were many times that it bumped to the wall or was dropped, and I expected many scars on the surface but turned out it was fine with just some small marks.
This board is tough!
Another thing that’s worth mentioning is the free-wheel bite ability as it works efficiently even if you practice making small turns daily. Overall, a must-try board for beginners.
Pros:
- Great price for a decent quality
- Good components, including wheels, trucks, deck, and bearings.
- Durable and long-lasting
- Softwood for better flexibility
- No wheel bite
- Nice and strong grip tape
- -> Good for downhills, carving and cruising
Cons:
- The rough gray part on the deck easily falls off in pieces, you should be careful
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 39 x 9.4 x 6 (LxWxH) |
Weight | 1 pounds |
Weight Capacity | <200 pounds |
Deck | Maple Laminate Deck |
Wheels | 65mm / 78A Urethane Wheels |
Trucks | 8.5 inches Aluminum Trucks |
Bearings | Abec 5 Bearings |
Highlight features | Classic Pintail shape; Full coverage griptape top; classic deck shape |
Playshion Longboard
(Best For Freestyle)
Another good choice for heavier beginner skaters.
The 8-ply hardwood maple with a weight limit of 250 lbs should be heavy but it turns out it only weighs around 8 lbs. – very light for either adults or kids.
The Maple wood deck might be the best part of this longboard due to its amazing strength, toughness, and hardness that withstands bumps and carves with minimal wear.
The feature that I really appreciate is the wheels. For roughly $58, you get the finest wood deck with an amazing weight limit but also the 70mm SHR 78A Polyurethane wheels that are perfect for beginners, however, If you weigh more 250 lbs my advice is to replace them with bigger ones for better stability as well as a smoother ride.
In general, this longboard is more about riding for fun so that you can carve, curve, cruise, freeride, and slide with ease.
Pros:
- Huge weight limit
- Versatile, strong but lightweight enough for both kids and adults
- High-quality deck with great durability and strength to bear a huge load
- Symmetrical design
- Quality wheels
Cons:
- Can’t do tricks
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 39 x 9.1 x 4 inches |
Weight | 7 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 250 pounds |
Deck | Eight Ply Maple Deck |
Wheels | Big Soft 70x50mm PU Wheels |
Trucks | Solid 7 Inch Aluminum Trucks |
Bearings | ABEC-9 Bearings |
Highlight features | Come with Multi-function Skate Tool; Trucks equipped with soft bushings; Drop-through mounting technology |
MINORITY Longboard
(Best for Downhill)
This maple wood deck option is a downhill longboard, which means its whole construction is adjusted to a lower center of gravity to improve riding speeds.
Its deck is only 40” x 10” in size and built close to the ground for easier paddling. This is a key factor to ride smoothly downhills with less gravity but with lots of control and stability.
I’ve also tried riding down different slopes and the speed exceeded my expectations. There was no wobble or unbalance at all.
I also appreciate the reverse kingpin trucks because you can adjust them to 45 or 50 degrees to meet match your preference: a key factor to deliver decent maneuverability.
Pros:
- Durable and strong deck
- Well-built as a downhill longboard with the perfect compromise of speed and stability
- Very balance and good at maneuverability
- Small turning radius
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Slight wheel bite
- Noisy trucks
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 40 x 10 x 4 inches |
Weight | 7.4 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 250 pounds |
Deck | 100% 8-ply cold pressed maple wood deck |
Wheels | 70x51mm 78A PU wheels |
Trucks | Genuine alluminium 7-Inch reverse kingpin trucks |
Bearings | ABEC-9 presion bearings |
Highlight features | classic downhill drop model; 37-Inch wheelbase; spacious 10-Inch width deck |
SCSK8 Longboard
(Various Color Options)
This is one of the best beginner longboards for those who are only looking for fun ride. It’s only more expensive than a Walmart longboard but way more practical and of better quality.
The board is a superb and only cost $33 for a smooth-riding board to skate around with friends on a nearby skatepark or commuting around your school campus. From my viewpoint, it acts like a $150 board.
I love the boards for the various size available to help me choose the right one for my height and shoe size. There are two options: The 40” and the 44”. Girls and teenagers or kids are best suited to the 40” as it is easy to carry around whilst bigger guys should go for the 44” for best support and stability.
In terms of quality, it’s quite good for the price, and it is easy to ride and with a good top speed. You need only spend 2 to 3 days to feel confident on the board and start cruising around. Only once you have completed your basic riding skills should you try downhill riding because this board accelerates pretty fast.
The board comes fully assembled ready ride out of the box.
Pros:
- Wide wheels, quality 7-ply maple deck, and 7” trucks for good stability
- Really cheap price
- Nice graphics
- Easy to learn how to ride
- Ride smoothly
- Various color and size options
Cons:
- Poor grip tape
- ABEC 9 which means the board itself accelerartes super-fast – not a good idea for beginners to ride downhills
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 44 x 9 inches |
Weight | 11 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 220 lbs. |
Deck | 7 Ply Maple deck |
Wheels | 70mm PU Wheels |
Trucks | Aluminum 7" Trucks |
Bearings | SCSK8 Precision Abec 9 Red Bearings |
Highlight features | Pro Black Grip Tape; flat-spot resistance 70mm PU Wheels |
SCSK8 Longboard
(Ride Smooth)
Consider this SCSK8 as a $33 longboard to start your skating life, and you will get more than what you paid for.
With good grip tape, 7-ply maple deck, aluminum trucks, and PU wheels it has Everything needed to cruise around the neighborhood.
For better performance, some replacements may be needed but I can assure you one thing, even after altering wheels, trucks, and bearings, the total cost will remain less than $100.
The trucks themselves might be a little bit stiff for the first ride and if you feel uncomfortable with that adjust them.
For better performance, I would change the wheels. They are good, but a bit somewhat limited. I love cruising around the streets and pavements so, a softer pair would be the better for decent shock absorption. But if you are a beginner and skateparks are your favorite place to practice, this replacement is not necessary.
Pros:
- High-quality, strong and durable deck
- Good wheels for practicing in skateparks
- High-quality trucks
- Useful grip tape
- Ride comfortably and turn smoothly
- -> Best for cruising
Cons:
- Wheels are a bit slow
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 40 x 9 x 4.5 inches |
Weight | 8.5 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 220 lbs. |
Deck | 7 Ply Maple deck |
Wheels | 70mm PU Wheels |
Trucks | Aluminum 7" Trucks |
Bearings | Precision Abec 9 Red Bearings |
Highlight features | 7 Ply Maple Construction; 70mm PU Wheels |
Yocaher Longboard
(Balance)
Yocaher is another reliable mid-tier brand for a good beginner longboard.
I highly recommend two models. The first one is this 41.25” longboard, designed for professional riders with a high flat-concave and ABEC 7 bearings that are phenomenally stability with a non-flex construction perfect for beginners.
It might be a bit difficult to paddle at first, but once used to the high concave, everything is smooth and quick to learn.
A Non-flex construction is a key feature for heavy riders to help keep their balance and the 9-ply maple deck with 78A Q-ball wheels will give you plenty of support and control.
Never riding downhill on this board unless you have experience in longboarding as under high speed the board is hard to handle.
Pros:
- Perfect for experts and beginners -> Ideal long term investment
- Stable and balance
- Easy to learn and ride
- Grip pretty well
- The deck is wide enough plus durable material to bear heavy load (up to 270lbs.)
- Full assembled
Cons:
- High concave so you might need time to get used to for the first time paddling.
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 41.25" x 10" |
Weight | 8.6 pounds |
Weight Capacity | <250 pounds |
Deck | 9-Ply Maple Deck |
Wheels | 70mm Wheels, 78A Hardness |
Trucks | 7" HD7 Heavy Duty 2 Tone alluminium alloy trucks |
Bearings | ABEC-7 Chrome Bearings |
Highlight features | Premium Grade 80A Black Griptape; 2 Tone aluminum alloy trucks; elastic rubber wheels |
Yocaher Longboard
(Fast)
This is a worthy investment for long-term longboarding because its construction is not only suitable for novice riders, but also for the experts.
While other beginner longboards choose ABEC 3 for their products, Yocaher upgrades them up to ABEC 7 – something that’s usually found on professional boards for high speed and a smooth ride. Boards with ABEC 7 bearings are usually expensive whereas this one is not.
I doubted the quality at first but after a couple of first rides, I changed my mind. The bearings roll smoothly and accelerate well and stability is still ensured with the large wheels, 180mm hanger, medium flex, and the 80A premium-grade grip tape.
You need to wear full safety gear when riding downhills because of the high speed.
When ordering this Yocaher board, it will arrive fully assembled ready for your very first ride.
Pros:
- Ready to ride out of the box
- Good trucks and wheels
- Sturdy and long-lasting deck
- Useful grip tape
- Ride fast and smooth
- Good price
- -> Good for cruising, freeride, carving, downhills, and ideal for big skaters
Cons:
- Poor bearings
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 40" x 9" |
Weight | |
Weight Capacity | 250 pounds |
Deck | 9-Ply Maple deck |
Wheels | Speed Cruiser 70x52mm Wheels, 78A Hardness |
Trucks | 9.675" HD7 Heavy Duty Trucks |
Bearings | Abec 7 Chrome Bearings |
Highlight features | Q-Ball 70x52mm Wheels 78A Hardness; Fully Assembled and ready to ride. |
JUCKER Longboard
(Good Flex)
In terms of the smoothest riding longboard, the Jucker Hawaii Makahuna is the winner.
Whether riding over flat, hard ground or a rocky surface, the board maintain great balance and stability for the rider, I tested it by having my wife try riding on the board. It was amazing that after 30 minutes, she could paddle it around as well as cruise, and, over rocks or cracks on the ground the board never stopped nor did she fall off.
Pros:
- Smooth ride
- Can roll over rocks or cracks on the surface
- Makes a good turn
- The combo of soft wheels and quality Canadian maple and bamboo deck absorb shocks well
- Very stable and lightweight
- 42” wide deck for extra foot area or easily mount electronics in its middle space
- Good trucks and bearings
- Good maneuverability
- Deliver lively flex
- -> Best for cruising around campus school, learning how to ride, and carving.
Cons:
- Poor packaging
Atom Longboard
(Sturdy)
Compared to other Atom longboards, this model is a more expensive.
But what you receive is a set of phenomenal wheels with no squeaky deck, poor-quality bearings, and limiting trucks.
I guess nobody wants to have a bad experience their first ride, so, if you can afford it, I highly recommend this Atom longboard.
The wheels turn really smoothly and make for a fantastic ride, they roll over patches of grass, small bumps, rocks, and sticks without wobbling or unbalancing the. In other words, they will give novice riders a sense of confidence on all surfaces.
The deck is lowered closer to the ground making it amazingly easy to paddle. If you’re experienced and want a fast downhill ride this is also the best board due to its quality ABEC 9 bearings and stock grip tape.
All in all, simply a great buy!
Pros:
- All-terrain, durable, versatile, and functional wheels
- Allows flex to make good turns
- Smooth riding and good pushing
- Easy to ride
- Beautiful design
- Small, lightweight enough to carry around easily yet large enough for tall riders
- Weight limits up to 300 lbs.
- -> Best for carving, cruising,
Cons:
- Not a good for doing tricks
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 39 x 9.5 x 7.8 inches |
Weight | 10 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 220 pounds |
Deck | sturdy maple-lam drop deck |
Wheels | 78a super-high-rebound urethane wheels |
Trucks | reverse king pin - 50 degree base - 7 inch aluminum trucks |
Bearings | ABEC 9 bearings |
Highlight features | 100mm x 65mm all-terrain wheels; Super coarse 46 grit off-road grip; heat treated crmo axles |
Sector 9 Longboard
(Lightweight)
If there is no skatepark nearby, and you end up practicing your skating on different kinds of surfaces, having a longboard with phenomenal stability isn’t enough as It must have good shock absorption to keep your balance as well as keep the ride smooth.
Sector 9 Bamboo G-Land is my recommendation.
The slight flex helps to absorb bumps and vibration on the road and sidewalk easily whilst the excess of foot space on its 5-ply laminated bamboo deck will deliver more standing area, comfort, control, and stability.
This board also accelerates rapidly so that experienced riders can push their limits with some carving at high speed or intense bombing downhill.
Pros:
- Fully assembled
- Good trucks and wheels
- 44” maple deck for better control, stability, and comfort
- Clear grip tape
- Flexible, durable, and lightweight
- Decent shock absorption
- Huge weight limit
- High-quality components
- Best for riding downhills, freeriding and cruising.
Cons:
- A bit wobbly for the first ride, some adjustment might be needed
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 44.0" L x 9.75" W x 30.5" WB10". |
Weight | 9 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 210 pounds |
Deck | 5 Ply Vertically Laminated Bamboo deck |
Wheels | 70mm 75a Center Set TS Wheels |
Trucks | Gullwing reverse pivot 10" Charger trucks |
Bearings | Abec 5 PDP Bearings |
Highlight features | Clear Grip Tape; All original Sector 9 components; Camber mold kick tail. Medium concave. |
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Loaded Longboard
(Good Turns)
The Loaded Boards Icarus might be a costly choice for beginners but is also the one I lay my trust on the most. Every single part of this model is truly well-made to give riders an exceptional level of riding experience.
The biggest benefit that I’ve found with this board is time-saving, instead of trying, adjusting, looking for better replacements for the stock wheels, bearings, or trucks, waiting for the goods, and installing this board has them ready out of the box to use, with no adjustment needed. No wasted parts. No extra money.
Unlike other expensive items that you have to carefully use for fear of breaking them, on this boar you can just feel free to beat them up. Very durable with hardly wears out. It can handle bumps, drops, carves, and other forms of a punishment without any damage to the graphics or other board’s parts.
The construction of this longboard is specialized to serve many different purposes such as pumping, freeride, freestyle, snowboard-style carving, and urban commuting. The board has enough features to satisfy all types of rides, no matter you’re a beginner or a pro, from stability, to flex, and maneuverability.
In general, this is a worthy long-term investment if you intend to spend your life longboarding.
Pros:
- Versatile to afford different riding styles
- Easy pushing and stable
- Include variable edge concave and Cambered profile for the better riding experience
- Tail kicks and nose
- Enable to make tight turns and deep carves
- Flared wheels combining with cutouts for optimal clearance
- Good at vibration damping
- Made of fiberglass and vertically laminated bamboo
- Very lightweight but durable with a lively ride
- Durable, high-quality Paris trucks
- Signature wheels for ultimate smoothness, speed, and grip.
- Keep balance well
- Decent bearings
Cons:
- Expensive
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 38.4” x 8.6” |
Weight | |
Weight Capacity | Flex 1: 170-250+ lbs Flex 2: 75-200+ lbs |
Deck | laminated bamboo and fiberglass deck |
Wheels | Orangatang 80mm, 80a Kegels wheels |
Trucks | Paris 180mm, 50° matte black longboard trucks |
Bearings | V2 bearings |
Highlight features | Drop-through truck; Cambered profile and variable edge concave; Cutouts combine with flared wheel; Minimal nose and tail kicks |
GLOBE Longboard
(Portable)
The Globe HG Geminon is a typical drop-down longboard for cruising around as a convenient form of transportation.
Its construction integrates all the needed features for commuting distances, traveling, or cruising through foot traffic on the street, such as drop-down design to lower the center of gravity, a 41” deck for stability, reverse kingpin trucks for good maneuverability, and the reasonable wheels with a width of 72mm.
But the best thing is the slight “W” concave that helps you grip like a pro, even down a hill or across busy foot traffic.
The material used for the deck is a bit stiffer than other 9-ply maple decks I’ve tried and the Blue Diamond sheet on the bottom leverages the stiffness significantly and will get more stability and balance while practicing.
Pros:
- 41” 9-ply maple deck with extra Blue Diamond bottom sheet for extra sturdiness, durability, and stability
- Drop-down design for less center of gravity, keeping a better balance
- Large wheels and reverse kingpin trucks -> Good maneuverability
- Make a sharp turn
- Lightweight, easy to carry
- Huge weight limit
- -> Best for cruising around, commuting and traveling without fear of being stolen
Cons:
- At high speed, it wobbles a little bit.
Product Specification:
Dimensions | 41" x 10" |
Weight | 8.5 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 250 pounds |
Deck | 9-ply maple deck |
Wheels | 72mm 78a wheels |
Trucks | 180mm Slant reverse kingpin trucks |
Bearings | 608 bearings/ Abec 7 Globe bearings |
Highlight features | Drop-down, slight "W" concave; 9-ply maple plus a Blue Diamond bottom sheet |
Note: Some supermarkets won’t allow you to skate. Ask them before making a ride for shopping groceries.
Roxy Longboard
(Best For Women)
After a short longboarding “class” of mine on the JUCKER HAWAII, my wife turned out to love this wheel-related sport. She bought a glider pintail classic longboard from Roxy due to my advice and also because of its girly looks.
On top of that, it arrives fully assembled, a must-have feature for women in most cases.
Another element that female riders should take note of is the board’s weight. This Roxy longboard is only 7.6 pounds, much lighter than standard, even my 10-year-old son can carry it around easily.
In contrast to its lightness is its outstanding performance. You can roll it with the lightest push, and it has a solid feel on your feet helping you keep your balance.
The best feature on this girly board is the extra EVA Foam on board. Many women start riding on their bare feet, which is something quite painful on the normal board, but thanks to the thoughtful extra feature, it is more comfortable now. Ladies, don’t miss out on this one!
Pros:
- High-quality material
- Flexible, durable and strong deck
- Cute and girly graphics
- Extra EVA foam
- Easy to ride and adjust
- Fully assembled
- Reasonable width of the deck to fit the average sizes of women’s feet
Cons:
- The bearings aren’t good enough
Buying Guide
Decks
When it comes to choosing the best longboard, the deck does matter as it’s the principal component to support you during a ride.
Types
There are four major types:
· Cruise
· Dancing/Boardwalking (top-mount)
· Freeriding (drop-down)
· Downhill (drop-through)
But only two of them are suitable for beginners: cruiser and the freeriding.
Why? – You might ask.
Because they deliver Stability.
Cruise
Cruise is popularly best known as a popular form of transportation among different longboard types.
These have good weight distribution to keep closer to the skateboard without flexing as much so that your stability is better. (In some cruises, there is a kick tail enclosed to upend its stability, you can consider adding this for easier riding)
Drop-down
With a Drop-down the stability is created by the longboard deck by lowered closer to the ground as the trucks, in this case, are mounted through and on top of the deck instead of towards the middle.
As such a drop-down deck helps your feet and legs move easily while pushing as well.
Another strength of this style of board is the symmetrical shape that allows you to easily switch from nose to tail.
Take note that the drop-down is more versatile than the cruise as it’s also utilized for slides, carving, and downhill, which means its price will be more.
If you intend to develop your board-riding career, go for this one. Otherwise, a cruise for riding along the streets is really fun.

Drop-through
Some people wonder why I don’t recommend the drop-through deck.
In terms of function, it’s the same as a drop-down deck but way faster when going downhills because the deck itself isn’t as close to the ground as the drop-through.
When riding down a slope or hill, the speed can be very dangerous, especially for a beginner who has little experience and skill to handle the board at speed.
Top-mount (Boardwalking/Dancing)
As its name suggests, this type of deck is used for dancing or board-walking, which is more about freestyle skating and trick performing.
Actually, beginners can use these but they will be a bit more difficult to get used to and learn because, in reality, the top-mount deck is designed more for professionals.
Size
Though the deck’s width doesn’t make much difference on the eye, it does in terms of stability factor.
The wider the deck, the more stable it will be.
There are three main shapes of the deck: Camber, concave, and flat. Among them, the flat one is best for beginners.
Materials
The next consideration is the deck material.
There are basically two kinds: Bamboo and Maple and Each of come with particular pros and cons. For example, bamboo has decent flexibility and lightness, while the strength of maple is durability and hardness to take a good thrashing.
If you want to practice cruising and carving, go for the bamboo deck. For downhill surfing and freeride, a maple one will be your best bet.
Bonus:
If you have a chance to meet experienced riders, you might spot the third deck material, which is also the most expensive: carbon fiber. It’s used by those who demand the highest level of speed and maneuverability with lightness but toughness to help them handle slides or corners perfectly.
So, can a beginner have it?
Yes, you can! But its price may break your bank. Besides, for beginners who only start to learn the most basic skateboarding skills, it’s not worth spending so much.
Trucks
Every longboard will need two trucks.
They are the T-Shaped metal pieces mounted underneath the deck and compared to standard skateboard trucks, there are two major differences.
First off is the width, longboard trucks are much wider to compensate for the longer deck. Secondly, the direction the axels face is opposite to standard truck axels because of their reverse-kingpin design.
These differences help skateboarders increase their maneuverability and turn better.
The size of longboard trucks is measured by the width of the axle or the width of the hanger and is important when it comes to choosing aboard.
Hanger width
The best hanger should match the longboard width. For example, if your board’s deck is 9” wide then the hanger should be a minimum of 180mm in width. Or, if it’s a slimmer board or a cruiser, a 150mm hanger is the best to go for.
Truck types
Another thing to consider is the type of longboard truck. The most common is the “reserve-kingpin” with a high range of maneuverability for carving turns in no time.
If you own a cruising board with kicktails, choose the standard style of trucks because of their sharp response from the provided tail. On the contrary, for the street skateboards, the “standard-kingpin” style trucks are good.

However, this doesn’t mean you can use the “standard” style trucks for longboarding. It just takes effort, time, and money to adjust the trucks as well as upgrade the bushes for sharp, smooth, effortless turning.
If you decide to go for the “standard” style trucks, make sure you know how to adjust them. To adjust the trucks, remember, this basic rule of thumb:
The tighter, the more stable of the trucks, the smoother of your downhill and freeride experience will be.
It is best to try your board first, then adjust its trucks gradually until the ride of the board feels good enough for you.
Wheels
Wheels make a difference, which is why you should not ignore them while looking for your first longboard. There are four things to consider: durometer, wheel size, wheel bite, and wheel shape.
Durometer:
A durometer is the unit of measure for a wheel’s softness uses the ‘Shore A Scale’, which ranges between 1-100.
Softer durometer wheels are better for control and grip over the movement to deliver more stability to your longboard and vice versa.
See at this table:
Durometer | Wheel’ hardness | Best for |
---|---|---|
78a-87a | Soft | Handle over bumps and cracks ,ride over rougher terrains ,cruise and downhill |
88a-95a | Slightly harder | Ride over rough ground ,street staking |
96a-99a | Hard | Ride around the skateparks in a bowl or on some vert ,street skating |
101a + | Really hard | Ride over rough surfaces with little grip ,provide a different riding experience |
For beginners, the 78a to 87a is the best to start with.
Wheel size
The millimeter is the official unit of measure for skateboard wheels. The bigger the diameter, the bigger the wheels.
For adult riders skating skateparks, street, bowls, and vert, wheels sizes of 54-59mm are the best choice.
But if you’re a beginner, I highly recommend going for the 60mm wheels and up based on their increased contact with the ground to deliver better stability, they can handle debris and bumps better than small wheels. They are also more suitable for specialty longboarding, downhill, and dirtboard, as well as old-school board skaters.
Wheel bite
This term is used to describe the rubbing caused by wheels against your deck when you make hard/sharp turns or when landing a trick. It allows you to stop abruptly and, in some cases, leading to a sudden stop.
Because of friction, the deck itself wears down as well, which the clearest sign of this is when you notice an indent as a slight spot where the wheels rub to the deck.
To overcome serious wheel bite, choose higher trucks or risers. However, if this issue is slight, you don’t need to think about it at all.
Wheel shape
Two popular wheel shapes are rounded and straight edges.
Straight edges are better for stability, which is perfect for a beginner with lots of control and grip. It’s also the perfect choice for riding downhills.
On the contrary, rounded wheels are a good choice for freeriding, cruising and sliding rather than downhill racing due to the reduced grip when turning.
Riser pads
As mentioned above, riser pads help prevent wheel bite.
So, the longer the board, the larger its wheels, and the higher a riser pad should be.
For beginners, risers are a must-have accessory to prevent friction between wheels and deck, and also reduce pressure cracks formed when relieving stress on the trucks as well.
Riser pads come in different sizes
Riser pad’s height | Hardware size |
---|---|
No riser | 7/8" - 1" |
1/8" | 1" - 1 1/8" |
1/4" | 1 1/4" |
1/2" riser | 1 1/2" |
The case “no riser pad needed” is for those wheels that are too small (usually 58mm in size) while for beginners, the ideal height of the riser pad should be 1/8”.
Must-have accessories for longboarding
Protective gear is a must. Safety first!
Five must-have accessories for longboarding are kneed pads, helmet, slide gloves, butt/hip pads, and elbow pads.
Knee pads
If you practice riding downhill or are learning how to slide, knee pads are a must to save you from unwanted injury from falling off.
Helmet
This is the most important piece of safety gear to protect you from head injuries. In skateboarding the risk of head injuries is high no matter if you ride fast or slow and in some cases, they can be fatal.
Slide gloves
The next must-have safety gear in this list is a pair of slide gloves that act as brakes for a longboard to shutdown slides. Wearing them helps protect hands from injury when braking
Elbow pads
Along with the slide gloves, you should equip yourself a pair of elbow pads when riding downhill fast to save your skin from injury.
Butt/hips pads
And finally, butt/hip pads.
They look like a pair of shorts worn underneath your clothes. You should have these when learning how to surf downhill or when learning a new trick.
FAQs
1. What is the best type of longboard for beginners?
Hm, it’s a hard question because the answer depends significantly on your preferred style in longboarding as well as what you want to do with a longboard – either just for fun or for a professional riding career.

Out of four major types, I highly recommend choosing either the cruise or the drop-down because of their stability.
For fun, a cruiser board is a great choice whereas professionals should go for a drop-down longboard.
2. Are longboards easier to ride?
Compared to other types of a skateboard, the longboard is really easy to ride, which makes them a perfect choice for a beginner because the board is much longer, with bigger wheels and wider trucks to deliver better stability. If you choose the right deck type, it’s even easier.
3. What is the best brand of a longboard?
Great question!
For help with your answer to this question, kindly take a look here.
4. What is the best type of longboard for cruising?
5. How much is a longboard?
Between $50 and $300depending on what you’re going to do with it. Obviously, a longboard for cruising only is much cheaper than the one for other uses. Besides this, style and preference do matter.
However, as a beginner, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a high-end longboard. Choosing a good one for between $90 and $150 with give you a lot of board.
6. What is longboarding?
Literally, longboarding has been developed for the high demand of surfers who are looking for something longer than the standard skateboard for better stability and good acceleration. This means longboarding is very much the same in movement.
7. What are the best longboards for heavier riders?
For a high-quality stiff deck made for heavier riders, a drop deck is a good choice. The most important thing to consider here is its length. Too short and it feels like standing on nothing whereas too long and it looks like a coffee table under your feet.

To help you find out the most suitable, I’ll give you an example: I’m 6’5” and 200 lbs., I wear a size 12 shoe. The two decks I’m going to suggest you are quite phenomenal for me.
8. Are skateboards or longboards better for commuting?
I’ll answer this question by listing the particular strengths of each board for commuting. Longboards are truly the best choice for dealing with variable pavement/road/sidewalk surfaces and actual commuting-like travel.
At the same time, skateboards emphasize their lightness to easily carry around when not in use.
So, the choice lies with you.
Bonus:
If you have experience in customizing your board, I highly recommend going for a skateboard to take advantage of its lightness whilst changing its wheels because the result in commuting performance is based on that part.
If you alter them to buy a larger pair of wheels than longboard standards, the commuting will be better, or, to enjoy the commuting experience, go for the wheels that are softer than the skateboard standards.
9. How to longboard for beginners?
First off, is determining which foot to place forward.
If you’re a right-footed, place the left one forward. On the contrary, as a left-footed person, place your right one toward.
If you have no idea of which group you are in, think about the foot that gives you energy when kicking a football.
Next is articulating your feet
This is the key to help you learn longboarding quickly but many people don’t know about it.
Place the front foot straight behind the screws whilst putting your back foot in front of the rear screws.
Many people choose to place their back foot behind the rear screws but in fact, it isn’t helpful at all because the posture will put your body weight on the back, leading to your board lifting up.
Now, start pushing!
When putting the back foot on the longboard, place it in the same place that I’ve just told you, in front of the rear screws whilst the front one is straightened to 90 degrees. This posture is an essential step to keep you stable without wobbling in the process.
Practice with a partner
Why?
Because you need a person who pushes you on the longboard so that you can practice your balance, stability, and strength.
Once you complete this step, it’s time to try longboarding alone.
Turning
Now, it’s time to learn how to turn right or left. There are two simple things to remember: toe edge curving and heel edge curving.
Imagine that you are longboarding with your own stance, the toe edge curving helps you turn right by dipping your toes inward whereas the heel edge curving makes the board turn right by dipping your heels backward.
How to stop your board
Last but not least is how to stop your longboard. As there is no braking system on this type of board, remember the two ways to stop a board. The first one is to carefully jump off the board whilst running off any momentum you’ve got.
Apply this way when you see any obstacles like ditches, grass, or puddles.
And the second way to stop it is shuffling the feet that you utilize to push the board. I prefer this one more but for beginners, I highly recommend the first method.
Another more skillful way to stop your board (which should only be applied by experienced skaters but I’ll include it here to vary your choices after completing the first basic way) is using the glide gloves. This way is more suitable for riding downhills when your speed is high and you want to stop abruptly.
Take a look here:
10. Longboard weight limit?
Almost longboards have a weight limit of 200-300 lbs.
In conclusion
As beginners don’t have much riding experience, choosing the right longboard is a very careful process. Because there are so many options available, it’s even tougher to figure out than you may think.
I hope that from my years of experience in longboarding and this buying guide that you can find the best longboard for beginners. Thanks for reading!
If you still need additional reviews on longboard brands, longboard cruiser, or longboards for heavy riders, these posts will come in handy:
Betty
I am still learning a lot about longboards from your post, and I would like to ask if the price you posted is in United States Dollar or in Canadian Dollars? Then is it possible to have an article that teaches beginners how to ride or make use of longboards, maybe a video tutorial would help, if you can? Cheers
Bam Ericson
Hello Betty, all the articles are in U.S dollars. Having a tutorial to teach people how to ride a skateboard or longboard is a great idea. I’ll have to look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Tyler
Well written, good job!
Bam Ericson
Thanks, Tyler!
Jacob
Such a long but insightful article. I am confused about which one to go for. Any suggestions?
Bam Ericson
Hello Jacob, you can’t really go wrong with any of them because they’re all good quality. To help you make a decision, look at the style you prefer and go for that instead.